The Ohio University Alumni Association and Ohio Brew Week will bring entertainment and fresh brews to those populating Athens’ brick streets Homecoming weekend.
The Alumni Association’s “Rock the Block” event will fill Union Street, between Court and College streets, with live performances by Dave Rave and pop/rock cover band Shallowtail, said Cristie Gryszka, director of reunions, special programs and alumni relations.
A beer garden will pepper Rock the Block festivities with 12 kegs of local, craft beers produced by breweries that are connected with OU alumni.
Ohio Brew Week is sponsoring the beer garden, and the kegs will cost $150 each, said Dan Gates, director of Ohio Brew Week.
OU alumnus Mark Beery from the Columbus-based Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus will provide Nut Brown Ale and Dark Horse Lager to be sold at the event.
Other featured brews include Columbus Brewing Company’s Scottish 90 Shilling Ale and IPA, Cincinnati-based Christian Moerlein’s regular German lager and pale ale and Cleveland-based Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and Burning River Pale Ale.
“The whole idea behind the system was, let them try Ohio beers by people who went to Ohio University, and build that unity,” Gates said.
Though the craft beer assortment has successfully garnered attention to Rock the Block, Gryszka maintains that this is “not an alcohol-centered event.”
“It’s really focused on the two bands, because the name is Rock the Block,” Gryszka said. “We just wanted to make sure there’s also opportunities for people to stay and stick around.”
Athens City Council approved Rock the Block after a proposal from the Alumni Association. Gryszka also received approval from the Uptown Business Association.
Ohio Brew Week will cover all beer garden-related costs, including the $1,800 keg fee, Gryszka said.
The Alumni Association will foot the entertainment bill, which includes paying the band, covering performance costs and working with Event Services, Gryszka said.
However, the total Rock the Block cost will not be available until next week, Gryszka said.
“We have a budget for overall Homecoming,” Gryszka said. “Can’t say what it’s costing.”
Rock the Block sponsors include Precision Imprint, Applebee’s, Avalanche Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings, Domino’s Pizza, Blue Eagle Music and Kiser’s BBQ Shack.
Amanda Davis, assistant director of student and young alumni programs, said partnering with Ohio Brew Week was just a natural connection.
“Everything we do here is just putting our best foot forward,” Davis said. “Not just with the association, but with the city.”
sg409809@ohiou.edu
